Descriptions, Reviews, etc.
Description:
"Almost everything Callie's family owns is spread out in their front yard--their furniture, their potted flowers, even Callie's bike. They can't stay in this house, so they're moving to an apartment in the city. The new place is 'small but nice, ' Mom says, and most of their things won't fit, so today they are having a yard sale. But it's kind of hard to watch people buy your stuff, even if you understand why it has to happen"--Amazon.com.
Review Quotes: While the topic is an extremely tough one, Bunting tackles it with her usual grace and poise. The clear and concise writing is a wonderful choice for the subject matter. ... A vital purchase for collections everywhere.
--School Library Journal (starred review)
Callie's first-person observations reveal her distress, while poignant watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce her emotions through deft use of white space, color washes and strong outlines that capture postures and facial expressions. Images of forlorn Callie surrounded by a yard full of possessions, sad Callie hugging Sara, distraught Callie grabbing her bike and Callie's parents comforting her visually tug the heart. A simple, moving tale of a family in transition.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Castillo's (
Nana in the City) gentle scenes soften the family's sadness.... Bunting captures the way loss can take a family's possessions while leaving their love for each other intact.
--Publishers Weekly
...a quietly domestic, visually accessible style that offers a feeling of stability, which helps cushion the sadder implications of the story. It's useful to have a story where moving may be no adventure for anybody in the family, but where things will still be okay.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The story's focus on having to move due to reduced circumstances is a welcome addition to books about contemporary problems.
--Booklist
Castillo's warm and restrained ink and watercolor illustrations capture the emotions without overwhelming the reader. A lovely and honest story about a hard topic.
--Kirkus Reviews
This simple yet powerful picture book will resonate with any reader who has experienced loss and engender empathy among students who may be in a position to help those who have.
--School library Connection
A straightforward, heartfelt story.
--Horn Book
A quietly wrenching yet ultimately comforting story of a family adjusting to straitened circumstances.
--The Wall Street Journal
